For many the chance to go to sea is the perfect excuse to get away from the clawing soap operas pumped out by television stations and relayed on terrestrial television in a steady stream.
Now it seems even sailing on the oceans offers no escape. P&O Cruises and Cunard are to be the first to offer soaps such as Eastenders, Holby City and Casualty to passengers.
This follows the announcement that BBC Worldwide has announced the launch of a global entertainment channel, BBC HD. It will be the broadcasters’s first channel produced exclusively for cruise ships and the wider maritime market.
It will go live through Global Eagle Entertainment’s (GEE) MTN TV network, with
content on the new channel covering all genres ranging from drama, comedy and factual entertainment to natural history and documentaries.
Programmes will air on the ship close to the UK broadcast dates so that passengers can stay up to speed with their favourite shows as they enjoy their cruise holiday.
The new BBC HD service will complement BBC World News, which was launched on MTN TV in 2010 and is available on cruise ships throughout the world.
P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Paul Ludlow, said: “We are delighted that our guests will be able to travel the world but still keep up with their favourite television shows for that touch of home. BBC HD will be a superb addition to our in cabin entertainment and I am sure will be welcomed by our guests on both P&O Cruises and Cunard.”
As the launch customer BBC HD will be available on all P&O UK and Cunard ships with the channel also becoming available to the wider cruise industry in due course.